Ministry of Hajj and Umrah prioritises the safety of Umrah pilgrims
The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah (Kemenhaj) continues to anticipate security dynamics in the Middle East by strengthening coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to ensure the safety of Umrah pilgrims and readiness for the 2026 Hajj. Some pilgrims have returned to their homeland, while others continue to await flight confirmations, particularly those using transit carriers. As of 28 February to 2 March 2026, 7,782 pilgrims had returned home.
Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Dahnil Anzar Simanjuntak, emphasised that pilgrims’ safety is the government’s top priority. ‘We ensure the country is present. The safety of pilgrims is the top priority. We will continue to coordinate intensively with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and all relevant parties to ensure pilgrims can return safely,’ he said on Tuesday, 3 March.
As an anticipatory measure, the Ministry has urged postponement of Umrah departures in the near term, taking into account the escalation of the situation and results of cross-ministerial coordination. Until the close of the Umrah season in April, more than 43,000 prospective Umrah pilgrims were scheduled to depart in March–April. ‘We urge prospective Umrah pilgrims to postpone departures for the time being. This step is taken solely for the safety and protection of pilgrims,’ he said.
To support the repatriation process, the Ministry is preparing two schemes: requesting additional Garuda Indonesia aircraft during the Ramadan period and preparing adjustments to flight scenarios if escalation of the situation increases. ‘We are preparing a number of mitigation steps. If necessary, there will be additional aircraft and route adjustments so that pilgrims can return home safely and on time,’ he added.
Separately, the Ministry has ensured that all service arrangements for Hajj 2026 have been prepared in advance. The government is optimistic that Hajj 2026 can proceed on schedule while maintaining several anticipatory mitigation scenarios. ‘We are preparing all service arrangements in advance so that Hajj 2026 runs optimally. Nevertheless, we continue to prepare various mitigation scenarios as a precaution,’ Dahnil explained.
President Prabowo Subianto also emphasised that the administration of Hajj should be free from rente practices, cartels, or manipulation. ‘The President’s message is very clear—the Ministry’s face must be one of integrity, clean, and transparent. There must be no practices that erode the trust of the people,’ he concluded.
A total of 6,047 Umrah pilgrims have arrived back in Indonesia safely. The ministry prioritises maximum protection and has urged postponement of departures for safety. The Ministry continues to monitor security of 58,873 Indonesian Umrah pilgrims amid escalating Middle East tensions. Official flight schedules and advisories are available. The ministry is accelerating the Haj 2026 visa process: 162,000 documents have been processed, 57,000 visas printed, with about 40,000 remaining and targeted to be completed by early March. Head of BPKH, Fadlul Imansyah, said the institutional design of BPKH is appropriate but needs strengthening of technical coordination and regulatory harmonisation in the Draft Law on Hajj Financial Management. Deputy Minister Dahnil Anzar Simanjuntak, with Matahari Pagi Indonesia, distributed humanitarian aid to residents affected by floods and landslides in Aceh Tamiang. Training participants are discovering important values such as discipline, enthusiasm, and teamwork. The training method, which incorporates a semi-military concept, is a new approach to shaping the character of the staff who will serve pilgrims.